Method and System for Determining Access During Inter-Technologies Handoff

ABSTRACT

A system and method for determining an initial mean open loop power level of a pilot channel of a reverse traffic channel for a mobile terminal. The initial open loop power level enables handoff of an active call from a first access network to a second access network. A handoff initialization request is from the first access network. A mean received power level of the forward link of the second access network is measured and transmitted to the second access network. An open loop power adjustment factor is received from the second access network. The initial mean open loop power level is set based on the open loop power adjustment factor.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cellular communicationsystems and more specifically to a method and system for determining aninitial mean output power for a pilot channel of the reverse trafficchannel when handing-off an active call between networks that usedifferent access technologies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless technologies are evolving toward broadband information accessacross multiple networking platforms to meet demand for continuousavailability of multimedia applications. Recent trends indicate thatwide-area cellular networks based on second, third and fourth generation(“2G”, “3G” and “4G”) standards and wireless local area networks(“WLANs”) will co-exist to offer multimedia services to end users.Seamless mobility across the multiple networking platforms is needed toenhance interoperability and service continuity among the variouswireless networks.

Mobility management provides universal wireless coverage and broadbandaccess by strategically combining multiple networking platforms. Duringmobility management, the system may perform both intra-technologyhandoffs and inter-technology handoffs. Intra-technology handoffsinclude the traditional horizontal handoff process in which the mobileterminal hands-off between evolved Node-B (“eNB”), access points (“AP”)or base stations (“BS”) using the same access technology. Alternatively,inter-technology handoffs, commonly referred to as vertical handoffs(“VHO”), are performed when the mobile terminals roam between differentaccess technologies.

VHO may include moving out of a preferred network (“MOUT”) or movinginto a preferred network (“MIN”). For example, handoff procedures may beinitiated when signal strength measurements originating in the primarynetwork fall below pre-selected threshold parameters. The mobileterminal may detect the weak signal strength emanating from the primarynetwork and may initiate a handoff to the secondary network havingstrong signal strength by reporting the weak signal to the primarynetwork.

Frequently, during communication handoffs between access networks usingdifferent technologies, mobile terminals experience loss of service orservice interruptions while negotiating the handoff exchange between thewireless access networks. One of the problems experienced during ahandoff is that the mobile terminal does not know the appropriate openloop power needed to continue the call using the new network.

For any given access network, the direction of data flow is indicated bythe terms “Forward Channel” (also known as “Forward Link) and “ReverseChannel” (“Reverse Link”). The Forward Channel contains communicationstravelling from the access network to the mobile terminal. The ReverseChannel includes communications travelling from the mobile terminal tothe access network. The forward channel typically includes the PilotChannel, MAC Channel, Control/Traffic Preamble, and Control/TrafficChannel. The Reverse Channel typically includes the Access Channel(“ACH”) and the Reverse Traffic Channel (“RTC”) depending upon the stateof the data connection. The Access Channel is used by the mobileterminal to initiate communication with the access network. The mobileterminal uses the Reverse Traffic Channel to transmit user-specific dataor signaling information to the access network.

Generally, when a mobile terminal originally places a call, it sends anaccess probe to the network on the access channel. The probe includes acall request. The mobile terminal gradually increases the power leveluntil the call request is successfully completed. Then, the mobileterminal uses the power level established by the access probe totransmit the content of the call on the traffic channel. When the mobileterminal places subsequent calls, it retrieves the last successful powerlevel from memory and uses this power level from the previous accessprobe as a starting point for the initial power estimation for a newaccess probe.

For example, for an Evolution-Data Optimized (“1xEV-DO”) network, alsoknown as High Rate Packet Data (“HRPD”), the mobile terminal estimatesthe open loop power needed using the following method. When the mobilechannel initiates a reverse traffic channel transmission (i.e., from themobile terminal to the base station), the initial mean output power ofthe pilot channel of the RTC is set as the mean output power of thepilot channel at the end of the last access channel (“ACH”) probe minusthe difference in the forward link (“FL”) mean received signal powerfrom the end of the last ACH probe to the start of the RTC transmission.Thus, the initial mean power is based on the output power of the lastsuccessful access probe.

Use of the access probe is not desirable when the mobile terminal movesbetween networks during an active call because of the amount of timeneeded to establish a new connection. On the access channel, all mobileterminals requesting to place calls share a set bandwidth, thus themobile terminal may experience a collision with other traffic whentrying to connect with the new network, which may result in the firstnetwork dropping the call before the second network can successfullypick up the call. The amount of time needed to iterate an appropriatepower level may also result in the call being dropped.

Instead, the call is transferred directly from one network to anothernetwork, for example, from a 3rd Generation (“3G”) Long Term Evolution(“LTE”) network to a HRPD network, using only the traffic channel inorder to reduce the call interruption time. However, there is currentlyno defined method for the mobile terminal to determine what initial openloop power level should be used on the reverse traffic channel.

Therefore, what is needed is a method and system for a mobile terminalto determine an initial open loop power for a pilot channel of thereverse traffic channel when handing-off an active phone call betweennetworks that use different access technologies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously provides a method and system fordetermining an initial open loop power for a pilot channel of thereverse traffic channel when handing-off an active phone call between aprimary access network and a secondary access network when the networksuse different protocol technologies. Generally, the secondary accessnetwork assists the mobile terminal to determine the initial open looppower level of the reverse channel by providing an open loop adjustmentfactor based on the measured power level of the forward link.

One aspect of the present invention provides a method for determining aninitial mean open loop power level for the pilot channel of a reversetraffic channel for a mobile terminal. The initial open loop power levelenables handoff of an active call from a first access network to asecond access network. A handoff initialization request is received fromthe first access network. A mean received power level of the forwardlink of the second access network is measured and transmitted to thesecond access network. An open loop power adjustment factor is receivedfrom the second access network. The initial mean open loop power levelfor the mobile terminal is set based on the open loop power adjustmentfactor.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides asystem for determining an initial mean open loop power level of a pilotchannel of a reverse traffic channel for a mobile terminal. The initialopen loop power level enables handoff of an active call between at leasttwo different wireless access networks. The system comprises a firstwireless access network having a first air interface standard and asecond wireless access network having a second air interface standardthat is different from the first air interface standard. The firstaccess network is operable to transmit a handoff initialization requestto the mobile terminal. The second access network is operable to receivea measured mean forward link power, determine an open loop poweradjustment factor, and transmit the open loop power adjustment factor tothe mobile terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the network architecture of multiplewireless access networks constructed in accordance with the principlesof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a service flow performed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention for registering a mobileterminal in a secondary access network while the mobile terminal isactively communicating with the primary access network; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary initial open loop power estimationprocess performed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention for a mobile terminal during handoff between a primary accessnetwork and a secondary access network.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments that are in accordancewith the present invention, it is noted that the embodiments resideprimarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing stepsrelated to implementing a system and method for selectively performingtime compression and/or dilation of speech signals to align a referencesignal to a processed signal, in order to reduce voice qualityestimation errors. Accordingly, the system and method components havebeen represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in thedrawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent tounderstanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not toobscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the descriptionherein.

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top”and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entityor element from another entity or element without necessarily requiringor implying any physical or logical relationship or order between suchentities or elements.

Long-term evolution (“LTE”) is part of the third generation partnershipproject (“3GPP”) and is directed to improving the universal mobiletelecommunications system (“UMTS”) mobile telephone standard byproviding a simplified, all-packet architecture. UMTS technologysupports mobile internet protocol (“IP”) services, such as musicdownloads, video sharing, voice over IP broadband access, and other IPservices to laptops, personal digital assistants (“PDAs”) and othermobile terminals. LTE enhances current UMTS capabilities by providingimproved efficiency, lower costs, increased peak data rates, lowerlatency, improved services and improved integration with other openstandards.

LTE includes an evolved packet system (“EPS”) architecture having anevolved packet core (“EPC”) on the core side and an evolved UMTSterrestrial radio access network (“E-UTRAN”) on the access side. The EPSis designed to minimize the number of signal hops that occur duringsignal transmission. The EPS also distributes processing loads acrossthe network. The EPS user plane includes base station nodes and gatewaynodes.

Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designatorsrefer to like elements, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary block diagram ofa system designated generally as “10” that enables mobile terminals 12to migrate between different access networks in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. The system 10 includes a firstaccess network 14, e.g., an LTE network, a second access network 16,e.g., an EV-DO network, and a communications network 18. According toone embodiment, the invention is directed to estimating an initial openloop power level for the reverse traffic channel when moving mobileterminals 12 from the LTE network 14 to the EV-DO network 16, when thesource LTE network 14 determines that the mobile terminals 12 will bebetter served in the EVDO network 16, such as prior to the mobileterminals 12 “falling off” the LTE network 14.

It should be appreciated that, although the invention is described withreference to the LTE network 14 and the EV-DO network 16, the principlesof the invention may be adapted by one of skill in the art to migratebetween any networks, including other UMTS networks, WiMAX (802.16)networks, other CDMA2000 networks and any other networks known in theart or later developed.

According to one embodiment, the mobile terminals 12 may include a widerange of portable electronic devices, including but not limited tomobile phones, personal data assistants (“PDA”) and similar devices,which use the various communication technologies such as advanced mobilephone system (“AMPS”), time division multiple access (“TDMA”), codedivision multiple access (“CDMA”), global system for mobilecommunications (“GSM”), general packet radio service (“GPRS”), 1xevolution-data optimized (abbreviated as “EV-DO” or “1xEV-DO”) anduniversal mobile telecommunications system (“UMTS”). The mobileterminals 12 also includes the hardware and software suitable to supportthe control plane functions needed to engage in wireless communicationwith eNBs 20 and base stations 22. Such hardware can include a receiver,transmitter, central processing unit, storage in the form of volatileand nonvolatile memory, and input/output devices, among other hardware.

According to one embodiment, the LTE network 14 may include a computingdevice arranged as a mobility management entity (“MME”) 24, which is acontrol plane entity that manages the attachment of mobile terminals 12to the LTE network 14, the authentication of mobile terminals 12, andmay interface with a radio access network (“RAN”) to create radiobearers. The MME 24 may include a central processing unit (“CPU”),communication interface, I/O devices and storage, such as volatile andnonvolatile memory, to implement the functions described herein.According to one embodiment, the MME 24 may be a signaling-only entity,such that IP data packets that originate from the mobile terminal 12 arenot processed at the MME 24. The MME 24 may perform various functions,including non-access stratum (“NAS”) signaling; NAS signaling security;tracking area list management for mobile terminals in idle and activemode; packet data network gateway (“PDN-GW”) selection and servinggateway (“S-GW”) selection; MME selection for handoffs that need MMEchanges; SGSN selection for handoffs to 2G or 3G 3GPP access networks;roaming; authentication; and bearer management functions; among otherfunctions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the LTE network 14 mayinclude evolved Node-Bs 20 a-20 n (referred to collectively herein as“eNB 20”) that include a server, transceivers for transmitting andreceiving radio signals, and antennas. The eNB 20 may include two-waytransceivers that broadcast data into the surrounding environment andtypically act as mediators between wired and wireless networks. Thetransceivers include circuitry to transmit and receive radio signals,antennas, and equipment for encrypting and decrypting communicationswith the MME 24. The eNB 20 may include tunneling modules 26 a-26 n(referred to collectively herein as “tunneling modules 26”) thatcommunicate with components of the LTE network 14 and the EV-DO network16 to pass signaling data between the networks. The eNB 20 may alsoinclude a CPU, I/O devices and storage, such as volatile and nonvolatilememory, to implement the functions described herein.

The eNB 20 typically performs several functions, including radioresource management, such as radio bearer control, radio admissioncontrol, connection mobility control, dynamic allocation of resources,e.g., scheduling, to mobile terminals 12 in both uplink and downlink; IPheader compression and encryption of user data streams; selection of theMME 24 when the mobile terminal 12 is attached, if no MME routing isdetermined from information that is provided by the mobile terminal 12;scheduling and transmission of paging messages that originate from theMME 24; scheduling and transmission of broadcast information thatoriginate from the MME 24; and measurement and measurement reportingconfigurations for mobility and scheduling, among performing otherfunctions. Providing the control features in the eNB 20 reduces latencyby introducing fewer hops in the media path and enabling spreading ofthe processing load across a plurality of eNBs 20. A network 28 mayprovide communications between the eNB 20 and the MME 24.

In accordance with one embodiment, the EV-DO network 16 includes basestations 22 a-22 n (referred to collectively herein as “base stations22”), a communications network 30, and a Radio Network Controller(“RNC”) 32. The base stations 22 may include transceivers that transmitand receive radio signals, antennas, and equipment for encrypting anddecrypting communications with the RNC 32. The base stations 22 mayinclude hardware and software that implement the functions describedherein to support control plane functions. The base stations 22 mayinclude a CPU, transmitter, receiver, and I/O devices and storage, suchas volatile and nonvolatile memory, to implement the functions describedherein. The base stations 22 communicate with the mobile terminal 12over a radio interface 34. The communications network 30 supportscommunication between the base stations 22 and the RNC 32. According toone embodiment, the RNC 32 may include a CPU, communications interface,I/O devices and storage, such as volatile and nonvolatile memory, toimplement the functions described herein. The RNC 32 controls the basestations 22 and performs various control functions such as load control,admission control, packet scheduling, handover/handoff control,macrodiversity combining, security functions, and mobility management,among performing other control functions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the LTE network 14 is theprimary network for connecting the mobile terminals 12 to one or moreremote parties 35. However, when the LTE network 14 is unavailable,unreliable and/or provides inferior quality of service (“QoS”), orwhenever the eNB 20 determines that an inter-technology handoff needs tobe triggered, then the mobile terminals 12 may be moved to the secondaryEV-DO network 14.

According to one embodiment, the mobile terminals 12 may include apre-registration module 36 that enables pre-registration with the EV-DOnetwork 16 while the mobile terminals 12 are in an on-goingcommunication session with the LTE network 14. The pre-registrationmodule 36 may facilitate pre-registration with the secondary network tominimize a total procedure time required to move the mobile terminals 12from the primary network to the secondary network, thereby reducing therisk of service loss. An exemplary method and system forpre-registration is described U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/052,457, filed Mar. 20, 2008, the contents of which are incorporatedby reference. The mobile terminals 12 may perform a sessionconfiguration in the secondary network while actively maintainingcommunications in the primary network.

According to one embodiment, the mobile terminals 12 include singleradio mobile terminals. The single radio mobile terminals 12 may bepre-registered with the EV-DO network 16 via the LTE air link, when themobile terminals 12 enter an area supported by a LTE border cell.According to an alternative embodiment, the single radio mobileterminals 12 may be pre-registered with the EV-DO network 16 via theEV-DO air link when the mobile terminals 12 are switched on.

Pre-registration allows the mobile terminals 12 to establish a presencewith the EV-DO network 16 in advance of a cell re-selection and/orhandover/handoff procedure. The LTE network 14 may instruct the mobileterminals 12 over a broadcast channel and in a dedicated RRC messagewhether pre-registration is needed.

A measurement module 38 may perform radio measurements on the EV-DOnetwork 16. The measurement module 38 may be located in the mobileterminals 12. The LTE network 14 may direct the measurement module 28 toperform the radio measurements on the EV-DO network cells. For singleradio mobile terminals 12, measurement gaps may be needed to enable themobile terminals 12 to switch to the EV-DO network 130 and perform theradio measurements.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the pre-registrationsignaling may include registration information, session information, andPoint-to-Point Protocol (“PPP”) information, among otherpre-registration signaling. The pre-registration signaling may be senttransparently from the mobile terminal 12, through a corresponding eNB20 and the MME 24, to the RNC 30 via a tunnel interface 40.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each eNB 2 of the LTEnetwork 12 may be associated with an HRPD SectorlD of the EV-DO network16 to enable the MME 24 to select a correct radio network controller 30for receiving the uplink tunneled messages. Associating each eNB 20 withan HRPD SectorlD also provides the target RNC 30 withtechnology-specific measurement information, including route update andpilot strength measurements.

According to one embodiment, mobile terminal 12 may provide contextinformation to the RNC 30, including a user profile, user history, anetwork location, mobile terminal location, network capabilities,network services, charging models, user settings, application settings,hardware capabilities of the mobile terminal, current required services,and radio measurement, among other mobile terminal context information.Additionally, mobile terminal context information may include terminalstatus information, including a battery level or an interface status,among other terminal status information. Furthermore, the mobileterminal 12 may provide network information including network statusinformation and network load information, among other networkinformation.

According to one embodiment, code division multiple access (“CDMA”) orcdma2000 technology generates cdma2000 messages that may be tunneled tothe RNC 30 from the mobile terminal 12 over the LTE network 14. Thetunneled cdma2000 messages are encapsulated in the uplink informationtransfer and downlink information transfer Radio Resource Control(“RRC”) messages. Messages that are sent through the tunnel interface 40may include, but are not limited to, a session ID that identifies atarget mobile terminal 12.

Additionally, the base stations 22 of the EV-DO network 16 include anopen loop power calculating module 42 which determines an open looppower adjustment factor based on measurement parameters received from amobile terminal 12 in a tunneled message. The open loop power adjustmentfactor is sent back to the mobile terminal 12 via the tunnel interface40.

According to one embodiment of the invention, handoff initiation modules44 a-44 n (referred to collectively herein as “handoff initiationmodules 44”) may initiate a handoff from the LTE network 14 to the EV-DOnetwork 16 upon confirmation that the mobile terminal 12 is in an activestate and is pre-registered with the EV-DO network 16. If theseconditions are satisfied, and if supported by measurement reportsreceived from the measurement module 38 of the mobile terminals 12, thenthe handoff initiation modules 44 may initiate the handoff by sending anRRC message to the mobile terminals 12 requesting the handoff to occur.The RRC message may include the specified target type and any cdma2000specific HRPD parameters that are needed by the mobile terminals 12 tocreate the HRPD messages needed to request a connection.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the mobile terminals 12may continue to send and receive data on the LTE network 14 untilreceipt of a “handoff command”. After receiving the “handoff command” atthe mobile terminal 12, the mobile terminal 12 terminates communicationwith the LTE network 14 and starts acquiring the HRPD traffic channel.The HRPD handoff signaling is tunneled between the mobile terminals 12and the EV-DO network 16 via the corresponding eNB 20 and the MME 24.

An exemplary open loop power determination process of the mobileterminal 12 on the EV-DO network 130 is discussed with reference to FIG.2. The mobile terminal 12, operating in an active state, may determinean initial open loop power for operating on the reverse traffic channelbased on information provided by the EV-DO base station 22 as part ofthe handoff process. For example, the mobile terminal 12 may be enteringinto a region supported by a LTE border cell which has determined that ahandoff to an EV-DO network 16 is needed to continue conducting thecall. As part of the handoff process, the mobile terminal 12 conducts apre-registration procedure prior to initiating the handoff and beginsconducting and reporting measurements of the HRPD forward channel pilotpower of the EV-DO network 14 to which the call will be transferred.Based on the HRPD measurements, the current or “serving” eNB 20 decidesto perform a handoff to the EV-DO network 16.

At step S102, the serving eNB 20 sends a handoff initiation indicationto the mobile terminal 12. In response, the mobile terminal 12 may routethe HRPD measurements, as measured by the measurement module 38, to thetarget RNC 32 in the EV-DO network 16 via the corresponding eNB 20 andthe MME 24 (step S104). The HRPD measurements may be included in aConnectionRequest+RouteUpdateMeasurement message. According to oneembodiment, the mobile terminal 12 may include a single radio thatcommunicates with the target RNC 32 of the EV-DO network 16 by passingthe EV-DO signal transparently through the eNB 20 and the MME 24. Thisoperation may be performed by encapsulating the EV-DO signal in LTEradio signaling protocols, such as NAS signaling, for example. Theencapsulated EV-DO signal may be tunneled, via tunneling interface 40,from the MME 24 to the RNC 32 without requiring the LTE network 14 toread and/or understand the EV-DO signaling. The tunneling interface 40provides bi-directional communication between the LTE network 14 and theEV-DO network 16.

After receiving the HRPD measurements, the target RNC 32 allocatesresources of a target base station 22 needed to continue the call andassists the mobile terminal 12 with determining an initial open looppower level for the reverse traffic channel sufficient to successfullycommunicate with the target BTS 20. The open loop RTC power module 42 ofthe target BTS 22 determines an open loop power adjustment factorcontaining power level delta that sets the open loop power level of themobile terminal 12 to a point that will allow the mobile terminal 12 tosuccessfully perform the handoff.

It is contemplated that the open loop power adjustment factor may becalculated in one of two ways. For the case where the mobile terminal 12has stored the reverse channel transmission power and the forward linkpower of the last successful transmission to the EV-DO network 16, theopen loop adjustment factor should be set to the value where the initialmean output power of the pilot channel of the RTC equals the mean outputpower of the pilot channel at the end of the last RTC transmission+thedifference in the forward link mean received signal power from the endof the last RTC transmission to the start of the RTC transmission+theopen loop power adjustment factor.

If the mobile terminal 12 does not store the power level parametersrelating to the last successful transmission, then the initial meanoutput power of the pilot channel of the RTC equals the initial powerlevel−the forward link mean received signal power+the open loopadjustment factor. In this case, both the initial power setting and theopen loop adjustment factor are supplied by the target RNC 32. Theinitial power level and the open loop power level adjustment factor maybe combined into one parameter. Separating these factors allows adefault number to be set for the “initial power level” and only the openloop power adjustment factor may be used to adjust for each handover.Thus, the initial power level factor may be omitted if not needed. Ofcourse, other methods for calculating the open loop power adjustmentfactor may be used and the present invention is not limited to the twoexemplary methods described herein.

The adjustment factors may be included in any tunneled handoff relatedmessage from the target network 16 to the mobile terminal 12. Forexample, the open loop power estimation parameters may be carried by aunicast message, such as “PerUserHRPDParameters,” and tunneled to themobile terminal 12 (step S106) just before the traffic channel isassigned (step S108).

The mobile terminal 12 uses the open loop adjustment parameters to setthe initial open loop pilot power for the reverse channel (step S110)without going through access channel procedures and the call continueson the traffic channel of the target network 16 (step S112). Afterinitial acquisition, the reverse channel transmission power may beadjusted using known techniques.

Optionally, after receiving the open loop power adjustments parametersand switching to the target network, the mobile terminal 12 may conducta “RTC initialization period” wherein the mobile terminal 12 does nottransmit data for a pre-determined amount of time. Instead, the mobileterminal 12 listens to the forward link of the target network to obtainPower Control information and uses the information to adjust the pilotpower level to a level that minimizes interference before transmittingdata.

FIG. 3 provides an exemplary operational flowchart that describes stepsgenerally performed by a mobile terminal to determine an initial openloop power for the reverse channel when conducting a handoff to anetwork using a different technology while the mobile terminal isengaged in an active call. The mobile terminal receives a handoffinitiation request from the serving network (step S116). The mobileterminal measures the received forward link power of the target networkand sends the forward link measurements to the target network (stepS118). The forward link measurements may be sent to the target networkvia a tunneling interface between the serving network and the targetnetwork. The mobile terminal receives open loop power adjustmentparameters from the target network based on the measured forward linkpower (step S120).

It should be noted that determining the open loop power adjustmentfactor based on the forward link power measured by the mobile terminalis just one method that the target network may use to determine the openloop power adjustment factor. There are other ways for the targetnetwork to determine the factor wherein the forward link powermeasurement reported by the mobile terminal is simply used to determinewhether the mobile terminal should be handed over to the target network,and the open loop power adjustment factor is determined by some otherpredefined method. For example, the “factor” value can be based upon theprevious experience of the deployed network.

The mobile terminal uses the open loop power adjustment parameters toset the open loop power level of the pilot of the reverse trafficchannel (step S122). The mobile terminal continues the active call overthe target network by sending data to the target network over thereverse traffic channel using the open loop power level of the pilotchannel determined with assistance from the target network (step S124).

Embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide a method ofdetermining the initial open loop power level for the reverse trafficchannel when an active call is being handed off between networks thatoperate using different technologies by allowing the target network toassist in the determination of the power level needed to successfullyconduct the call. The present invention does not require use of theaccess channel to establish communication with the target network,thereby reducing the amount of time it takes to handoff a call andimproving the likelihood of a successful transfer.

The present invention can be realized in hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. Any kind of computing system, orother apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein,is suited to perform the functions described herein.

A typical combination of hardware and software could be a specialized orgeneral purpose computer system having one or more processing elementsand a computer program stored on a storage medium that, when loaded andexecuted, controls the computer system such that it carries out themethods described herein. The present invention can also be embedded ina computer program product, which comprises all the features enablingthe implementation of the methods described herein, and which, whenloaded in a computing system is able to carry out these methods. Storagemedium refers to any volatile or non-volatile storage device.

Computer program or application in the present context means anyexpression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructionsintended to cause a system having an information processing capabilityto perform a particular function either directly or after either or bothof the following a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b)reproduction in a different material form.

In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should benoted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale.Significantly, this invention can be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, andaccordingly, reference should be had to the following claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of theinvention.

1. A method for determining an initial mean, open loop power level of apilot channel of a reverse traffic channel for a mobile terminal, theinitial open loop power level enabling handoff of an active call from afirst access network to a second access network, the method comprising:receiving a handoff initialization request from the first accessnetwork; measuring a mean received power level of the forward link ofthe second access network; transmitting the measured mean forward linkpower to die second access network; receiving an open loop poweradjustment factor from the second access network; and setting theinitial mean open loop power level based on the open loop poweradjustment factor.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the open loop poweradjustment factor is based on the measured -mean forward link power. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the initial mean open loop power level isa mean output power of a pilot channel at termination of a prior reversetraffic channel transmission, plus a difference in a mean forward linkpower at termination of the prior reverse traffic channel transmissionand the measured mean forward link power, plus the open loop poweradjustment factor.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial meanopen loop power level is an initial power level less the measured meanforward link power plus the open loop power adjustment factor.
 5. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the initial power level is received from thesecond access network.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the mobileterminal includes a memory, the initial power level being stored in thememory.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured mean forward linkpower is transmitted to the second access network through a tunnelinginterface.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first access networkuses Long Term Evolution 3GPP air interface standards and the secondaccess network uses CDMA2000 air interface standards.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising transmitting data to the second accessnetwork using the reverse traffic channel.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising preventing transmission of data to the second accessnetwork on the reverse traffic channel for a pre-determined delay time,the pre-determined delay lime being sufficient to permit the secondaccess network and the mobile terminal to adjust the power level of thereverse traffic channel.
 11. A system for determining an initial meanopen loop power level of a pilot channel of a reverse traffic channelfor a mobile terminal, the initial open loop power level enablinghandoff of an active call between at least two different wireless accessnetworks, the system comprising: a first wireless access network havinga first air interface standard, the first access network operable totransmit a handoff initialization request to the mobile terminal; and asecond wireless access network having a second air interface standardthat is different from the first air interface standard, the secondaccess network operable to: receive a measured mean forward link power;determine an open loop power adjustment factor; and transmit the openloop power adjustment factor to the mobile terminal.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the mobile terminal is operable to set the initialmean open loop power level based on the open loop power adjustmentfactor.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the initial mean open looppower level is a mean output power of a pilot channel at termination ofa poor reverse traffic channel transmission, plus a difference in a meanforward link power at termination of the prior reverse traffic channeltransmission and the measured mean forward link power, plus the openloop power adjustment factor.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein theinitial mean open loop power level is an initial power level less themeasured mean forward link power plus the open loop power adjustmentfactor.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein second access network isfurther operable to transmit the initial power level.
 16. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the mobile terminal includes a memory, the initialpower level being stored in the memory.
 17. The system of claim 11,wherein first access artwork further includes a tunneling module, thefirst access network is further operable to transmit the measured meanforward link power to the second access network trough a tunnelinginterface.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first air interfacestandard includes Long Term Evolution 3GPP air interface standards andthe second air interface standard includes CDMA2000 air interfacestandards.
 19. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal isfurther operable to transmit data to the second access network using thereverse traffic channel.
 20. The system of claim 11, wherein the mobileterminal is further operable to prevent transmission of data to thesecond access network oft the reverse traffic channel for apre-determined delay time, the pre-determined delay time beingsufficient to permit the second access network and the mobile terminalto adjust the power level of the reverse traffic channel.